Coventry student hoping to hit right notes in The Voice

[dutchman]

Melissa Gill is hoping to become the second singer from Coventry through to the next round of hit show The Voice.



The Coventry University student has set her sights on following in the footsteps of Lee Glasson who secured his spot in the knockout stage of the BBC talent show last Saturday.

Standing in the 22-year-old’s way is fellow contestant and member of Tom Jones’ team, Vicky Jones, and the two will go head-to-head in a bid to have the Welsh legend pick them as part of his final six.

Working as part of a duo is nothing new to Melissa who performs with fellow music student Hannah Maydwell, under the name That Sixties Vibe, as well as a solo singer.

And the decision to pair her with Vicky didn’t come as much of a surprise either.

“We both had an inkling that we would be together as we have both got the coloured hair and tattoos and piercings,” said Melissa.

“We get on really well and when it was announced we would be together we just looked at each other as if we just knew it was coming.

“I am used to sharing the stage with someone though so although it was different as she was singing also, it’s a nice feeling to have that safety barrier and that dynamic.”

Melissa will be cheered on during tomorrow night’s show by her parents Shirley and Rob, as well as younger sister Kayleigh, 19, who are hoping she can hit the right notes just as she did during her blind audition.

Her original performance of Amy Winehouse’s Love Is A Losing Game was enough to have three of the celebrity judges – Kylie Minogue, Ricky Wilson and Tom Jones – all vying to take her on.

But it was 73-year-old crooner Sir Tom who Melissa chose above the others and she is adamant that she made the right decision.

Melissa said: “He gave us lots of pointers and was great to work with.

“We did also want to put our own spin on the song though and make it our own, so that we could give each other a fighting chance.

“It’s still nerve-wracking as this time the four judges are all there watching you perform instead of having to turn their chairs around. However we just performed for who was there and you forget that there will eventually be millions watching on TV.”

Melissa’s battle with Vicky will be shown on BBC1 tomorrow night from 7pm.

[dutchman]

Tears and joy after Coventry singer wins TV Voice battle

It was a bitter-sweet moment for a Coventry singer as she continued her journey on hit talent show The Voice – but knocked a close friend out of the competition at the same time.

Melissa Gill, a music student at Coventry University, was paired with Vicky Jones for the battle stage and their friendship blossomed throughout.

However their mentor, Sir Tom Jones, could only take one through and it was Melissa who progressed after their duet of Just Give Me A Reason by Pink.

The final song choice came after the girls had already started laying the foundations to another number and left them with just a few rehearsals to put their performance together.

Melissa, 22, said: “We were originally doing a Supremes song which I was chuffed with and we were preparing for that, and then at rehearsals one day Tom said he thought he had it wrong and wanted to change the song.

“He wanted to do something more modern so we changed, but we had less time to sort it out.

“The song now suited Vicky more than me as she listened to Pink and it wasn’t something I would really have on my iPod.

“We both really warmed to the song though and it went really well.

“I had to start the song so I had to gear myself up to get the whole scene rolling, so I hope it sounds good on the TV.”

The tears flowed once the song reached its climax and Melissa was eventually revealed as the second singer who will be flying the flag for Coventry, following Lee Glasson’s success in his battle last week.

Speaking of the tension as the mentors made their final decision, Melissa said: “It was terrifying. There’s nothing else you can do and you have done your best with the song.

“I could feel myself getting upset at the end of what it is an emotional song. We are friends and it was heart-wrenching to know one of us was leaving.

“I cried when I got through as I was upset for Vicky and then it wasn’t nice either standing at the side to see if they get a steal or not.”

Despite this Melissa wouldn’t fancy the mentors’ job of having to decide on people’s futures.

She said: “It must be really difficult as I think the battle is a strange way to decide who goes through.

“Everyone at that stage is as good as each other, just different. So it must be a very difficult decision and I don’t envy the judges.”

[dutchman]

Wasn't much of a 'battle' in my opinion, the other girl's voice fell apart:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01tblf0